Former Coach Cal stars return to Rupp on Saturday for NBA preseason game

It’s been barely a month since John Calipari’s family reunion in early September for the UK Alumni Charity Game, but four more of Coach Cal’s “sons” will be in town Saturday for a preseason exhibition game.

Former Calipari stars John Wall, Anthony Davis, Tyreke Evans and Darius Miller will be in Rupp Arena on Saturday as the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Washington Wizards in a preseason NBA game. Tip is set for 7 p.m., and tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com.

Davis and Miller, both members of the Pelicans now, helped lead UK to the 2012 national championship.

“It was definitely a surprise,” Davis told the official New Orleans Pelicans blog upon finding out about the game in Lexington. “I thought it was a joke at first, until I started doing media and promotional things for it. I’m excited to go back. It’s going to be fun to play back in Rupp Arena in a real game situation. I can’t wait to get down there.”

Miller, a Maysville, Ky., native, won’t get to play as he recovers from offseason surgery.

New Orleans’ roster actually includes three former Calipari players with the offseason signing of Evans. After four successful years in Sacramento, Evans was traded to New Orleans and signed a lucrative four-year, $44 million deal with New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Wall’s team enters this season with high hopes. Fresh off signing a max contract for $80 million over five years, there’s talk that Washington could be in line for a playoff berth for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

Wall, like Davis, participated in the UK Alumni Charity Game in September and is looking forward to being back at a place where he made a lot of special memories.

“Ever since I left, the day I said I was going to the NBA, I always wanted to come back and play,” Wall said after the UK Alumni Charity Game. “I just appreciate the NBA and my team and the Pelicans for putting something together and having us come back. It’s a great opportunity because it’s right after Midnight Madness, so I get a chance to watch the new team play and have fun.”